Difference Between Cotyledon and Endosperm

Main Difference – Cotyledon vs. Endosperm

Cotyledon and endosperm are two parts of the seed of higher plants. During the germination of the seed, radicle is the first emerging part of the embryo, which involves in the absorption of water from the soil. The radicle develops into the root system of the future plant. Then the cotyledons, which contain the plumule, emerge. Plumule develops into shoot of the future plant, containing stem and leaves. Endosperm is a part inside the seed. The main difference between cotyledon and endosperm is that cotyledon is the embryonic leaf of the seed, which develops into first leaves of the embryonic plant and endosperm is the nutritive tissue, which stores nutrients required by the development of embryo during seedling.

What is Cotyledon

The cotyledon is the embryonic leaf found in the seed-bearing plants. The first leaves appearing from the germinating seed are cotyledons. Cotyledons are found in higher plants, both angiosperms and gymnosperms. Flowering plants (angiosperms) are classified into monocots and dicots, depending on the number of cotyledons appearing from the seed. Gymnosperms are considered as multicotyledonous plants, usually containing 2 to 24 cotyledons surrounding the plumule. Pinus halepensis, which is a gymnosperm containing eight cotyledons, is shown in figure 1.

Figure 01: Eight Cotyledons of Pinus halepensis

Monocotyledonous plants exhibit a single cotyledon during seedling. In contrast, dicotyledonous plants exhibit two cotyledons during seedling. The cotyledon of monocots like grasses is long and narrow since the endosperm of monocots contains a large storage of food. In addition, the cotyledon of monocots is a highly modified type of a leaf containing scutellum and coleoptile. The scutellum absorbs the food that is stored in the endosperm. The protective cap called coleoptile protects plumule, which is the embryonic shoot.

In dicots, cotyledons are wide and photosynthetic since they store little food in their endosperm. Cotyledons of dicots are, hence, functionally similar to true leaves. However, they are fatty and morphologically distinct to the true leaves. Cotyledons of monocots in the left and dicots in the right are shown in figure 2.

Figure 02: Cotyledons of monocots and dicots

What is Endosperm

The endosperm is the food storing tissue found inside the seed. Endosperm forms during the triple fusion of embryo sac. The two polar nuclei of the central cell in the embryo sac fertilize by one of the two sperm cells coming through the pollen tube during triple fusion. The resulting primary endosperm nucleus repeatedly divides, forming a triploid tissue. Typically, the endosperm is polyploid, varying from 2n to 15n. Endosperm stores nutrients, required for the development of embryo during seedling. It mainly consists of starch. Oils and proteins are found in the endosperm as well.

Two types of seeds are found depending on the presence or absence of endosperm in the seed: endospermic seeds and non-endospermic seeds. Monocots are endospermic seeds, containing a prominent endosperm inside the seed. Cereal crops are monocots. Endosperm of cereal crops like wheat and barley can be utilized as a source of food in the human diet as well. The nutrition stored in the endosperm of dicots is absorbed by the two cotyledons. Hence, a very little endosperm is found in the seeds of dicots. Therefore, they are called non-endospermic seeds.

A wheat kernel, containing an endosperm is shown in figure 3.

Figure 03: Endosperm of a Wheat Kernel

Three types of endosperms are identified depending on the mode of development of the endosperm: nuclear type, cellular type, and helobial type endosperms. Nuclear type endosperms are produced by free nuclear divisions of the primary endosperm nucleus. Coconut water is an example for the nuclear type endosperm. In cellular type endosperms, a cell wall is formed surrounding the daughter nuclei, forming by the division of the primary endosperm nucleus. Coconut meat is an example for the cellular type endosperm. In helobial type endosperms, both nuclear type and cellular type of endospermic development is observed. Monocots exhibit helobial type endospermic development. Coconut seed, which exhibit helobial type endospermic development is shown in figure 4.

Figure 04: Seed of the Coconut

Difference Between Cotyledon and Endosperm

Definition

Cotyledon: Cotyledon is the embryonic leaf of the seed-bearing plants that becomes the first leaves of the plant during seedling.

Endosperm: Endosperm is the nutritive tissue, which surrounds the embryo in the seed, providing nutrients to the development of the embryo.

Function

Cotyledon: Cotyledon possesses plumule and the radicle of the embryonic plant.

Endosperm: Endosperm serves as the nutritive tissue in the seed, containing stored starch, oils and proteins.

In Dicots

Significance in Dicots

Cotyledon: Cotyledons of dicots are photosynthetic.

Endosperm: Nutrition in endosperm of the dicots is absorbed by the cotyledons.

Conclusion

Cotyledon and endosperm are two parts of the seed of higher plants. Seed develops from the ovule after fertilization. The zygote develops into cotyledons. Primary endosperm nucleus forms by the fusion of a sperm cell with the central cell. It develops into the endosperm. Cotyledon is the embryonic leaf of the seed, which is capable of developing into the shoot of the plant during seedling. Endosperm contains required nutrients for the development of the embryo in the form of either starch, oil, or proteins. Monocots contain a single cotyledon in their seed and dicots contain two cotyledons. The nutrients in the endosperm of dicots is absorbed by the two cotyledons. Therefore, a tiny endosperm is found inside the dicot seed. However, the main difference between cotyledon and endosperm is in their function during seedling.

Monocot vs Dicot_crop Pengo, By w:User:Pengo – Peter Halasz. This is a retouched picture, which means that it has been digitally altered from its original version. Modifications: crop and paste. The original can be viewed here. Modifications made by Pengo., [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons